New Patient Registration

We are delighted to accept new patients who live in the surrounding area onto our practice list.

New patients welcome at St Damians surgery, Melksham. Please click here to find out more information.

Does it matter where I live?

Yes. We can only accept patients who live within this geographical area as this allows us to make house calls when necessary and to balance the number of patients between the different practices.

To view a document which outlines the boundary for our practice, click here.

If you wish to register with us, please visit the surgery and talk to our reception staff. It would be a great help if you could bring with you your up-to-date medical card. If you cannot find it, do not despair. We will also need you to bring some form of identification. This can either be a photo ID (passport/driving license) or a utility bill. Simply see our reception staff who will give you a simple form to fill in. Please ensure you know the following details:-

Full name, including previous names

Date and place of birth

Last address

New address and post code

Last name and address of your previous Doctor

NHS number if known - not the same as your National Insurance number!

Named GP

Part of the NHS Initiative for 2015/2016 is to ensure that all patients have a named GP who is responsible for their overall care.

Here a Bradford on Avon & Melksham Health Partnership we have in fact had this system in place for many years.

When patients register with us they are given a named GP. If you are uncertain of who your named (registered) GP is, please contact the surgery.

We strongly believe in patient choice and patients are able to see any GP they wish, either for a single appointment or for long term care.

However, we do prefer that patients see the same GP for any ongoing problems to maintain continuity

Temporary Residents

Anyone staying at an address other than their normal residence for less than three months is entitled to free NHS treatment if they develop a condition which is classed as an emergency or requires "immediately necessary" attention. However, everyone travelling away from home should ensure they have sufficient supplies of prescribed medicine to take during their stay. Doctors are entitled to charge a consultation fee and a private prescription charge if they are asked to prescribe routine medication.

All patients registering as a temporary patient will also need to bring some form of identification. This can either be a photo ID (passport/driving license) or a utility bill.

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Commitment statement to each other

We ask that you:

Do what you can to look after your own health and follow advice on a healthy

lifestyle

Let us know of any change of name, address, telephone/contact number or

next of kin for yourself and all close family members, as soon as possible, as

we may need to contact you/them urgently on occasion. A consent form can be

obtained from Reception if you would like any specific individuals to have

access to certain information in your medical records

Care for yourself when appropriate. The Doctors of the Practice have

composed a helpful information guide on how to treat common ailments such

as coughs, colds and sore throats. This guide can be found on the Practice

website or a hard copy can be obtained from Reception for those who do not

have internet access. Please refer to page 18 of this booklet for further

information

Listen carefully to advice on your treatment and medication. Tell the GP about

any treatment you are already taking and inform us if you do not understand or

are unclear about your treatment. There are a range of information leaflets

available at the Practice, please ask a member of the Reception team who will

be more than happy to help if you require assistance

Keep your appointment or let us know as soon as possible if you cannot make

it

Only request a home visit if the patient’s medical condition prevents them from

attending the Practice – please telephone before 10.30am if possible

Only contact the Out of Hours Service if the patient’s medical condition cannot

wait until the next time the surgery is open

Treat us with courtesy and respect and be patient when we are busy – please

understand that some emergency situations may take priority

Return any equipment that is no longer needed

Be aware that some certificates, reports, vaccinations and medical

examinations are not covered by the NHS. These, therefore, carry a fee and a

list of charges is available at Reception. Please accept that you may be asked

for payment in advance

Do not smoke or use your mobile phone in the building

Be aware that appointment staff will ask for the nature of your problem, prior to

booking an appointment. This ensures you are seeing the best and most

appropriate clinician or may even be helped straight away by another member

of the Practice team.

Our Promise to You:

When receiving our services you are entitled to expect:

A high quality of care and treatment that is easily accessible

Dignity and respect at all times and to be treated as an individual

Staff to address you in the manner of your choice

Privacy and confidentiality

Respect for your religion and culture

Whenever possible you and your relatives or carers, if you wish, to be involved

in making choices about your care

Clear explanations about your care and treatment and an opportunity for you to

ask questions

You can be assured that you will:

Receive care without discrimination

Be given a full explanation where there is any undue delay in your care

Receive a second opinion if you request it and if it is considered clinically

appropriate

Be allowed to choose whether or not to participate in clinical trials and student

training

Very occasionally a practice/patient relationship breaks down completely. In this

situation the patient may choose to register with a different Practice. The Practice also

has the right to remove the patient from their list. This would generally only follow a

warning as we would normally give the patient a specific reason for the removal.

NHS England

NHS England - List Maintenance Project 2015

Registration letters from NHS England – please respond if you get one

The NHS is carrying out work in Bath, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire to make sure the patient details on GP lists are accurate. Letters are being sent to some patients, but not all. If you do receive a letter, please either confirm your details or submit any changes. If the details are correct, you can confirm by freepost, by Freephone, via text message or online. Changes can also be made by returning the form in the prepaid envelope

It is important to respond to the letter, as GP lists do become out of date over time. If we don’t have an accurate record of your name and address, then we or a hospital may not be able to contact you with important information.

We may also need to contact you:

with test results

to invite you for bowel, breast or cervical screening to protect against cancer, for example

to offer vaccination against infectious diseases such as flu or measles, mumps and rubella

to give you an appointment as part of your plan to stay healthy if you have a long-term illness.

Please respond to the letter within four weeks, so the NHS can be certain about your details. If you do not respond, the NHS will assume that you have moved away, and begin the process to remove you from the practice list.

When you attend the surgery to sign your registration form, you will also be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your general health. This is because it can take a considerable time for us to receive your medical records.

Note that by sending the form you will be transmitting information about your self across the Internet and although every effort is made to keep this information secure, no guarantee can be offered in this respect.

Alternatively you may print off a registration form, fill it out and return it to the surgery as soon as possible. Registration Form

Practice Mission Statement

“To ensure the highest standard of family care and to offer patients continuously improving and appropriate access to health care professionals”

For more information about our prescription service, please click here

Prime Minister's Challenge Fund Bid

This morning, the practice has received a letter informing us that unfortunately we were unsuccessful in our bid for funds to extend our service to our patients as part of the PM's Challenge Fund.

There were over 250 expressions of interest, demonstrating a variety of options for improving and extending access to general practice, but we were thanked for "all the hard work and time that has gone into our application. All practices will have the chance to benefit from guidance being developed through the Challenge Fund programme including: work to help further reduce bureaucracy and identify new ways of shaping demand on general practice services and working at a greater scale in networks and federations. We are also exploring the potential to create some kind of innovation hub to share great ideas across the general practice communities".

So all in all it was worth having a go, but we must not be disappointed - we already provide a fantastic service compared to some other parts of the country, and if it helps them to raise their standards, then it will be money well spent.

....this page is currently under construction

Non-English Speakers

These fact sheets have been written to explain the role of UK health services, the National Health Service (NHS), to newly-arrived individuals seeking asylum. They cover issues such as the role of GPs, their function as gatekeepers to the health services, how to register and how to access emergency services.

Special care has been taken to ensure that information is given in clear language, and the content and style has been tested with user groups.

what’s on locally in your area?

On this page you can find out what is happening in your local area. If you have an event or information that you think would be of interest then please let me know via our website or telephone Sarah Smith on 01225 898498

08.05.17

Walking for the Mind!

Bradford on Avon walking group

This free, weekly walking group is aimed at those living with Dementia and their carers. The 30-60 minute gentle walk will be led by a team of warm and welcoming qualified walk leaders. It is great way to stay active both physically and mentally and afterward to socialise with new friends and mentally afterwards to socialise with new friends over a cuppa in one of the local cafes.

Falls and balance classes

Classes are specially designed to help people who have concerns regarding their balance, have has a fall or who are afraid they may fall. The class involves a variety of standing exercises supported by a chair which improves strength and balance and help participants to increase their confidence.

Fun sessions designed to help young people and their families adopt healthier lifestyles which become lifelong habits are beginning in Wiltshire this September.Healthy Me is a 10 week programme for children aged seven to 11 years who may be less active than recommended and above their healthy weight range. Young people and their families can attend the ten 90-minute sessions based in health and wellbeing centres and leisure centres across the county to find out about nutrition, food groups, portion sizes, food labelling, physical activity and making healthier choices a habit.

Melksham Leg & wellbeing club

From Thursday 6th April 2017 all patients registered with a Doctor in Melksham and who would usually attend St Damian’s Surgery for their leg ulcer dressing, will now be able to attend the new weekly Leg & Wellness Club.

At the Leg & Wellness Club patients will find a friendly, welcoming atmosphere which enables patients with lower leg problems to benefit from mutual encouragement, have fun and enjoy refreshments together in a social setting.

The service is drop-in which means patients do not have to make an appointment, just come along to be seen by one of leg ulcer team.

The Happy Circle - Day Centre for Older people

Living independently in Melksham

The Happy Circle Day Centre meets at Rowley Place in Melksham and is a social club for isolated and lonely older people generally living in their own homes. Fun, food and friendship for Older People. Meets every Monday at Rowley Place from 10.30 am - 3 pm (excluding Bank Holidays)

Who We Are: Bobby Operators are skilled carpenters/lock fitters, trained Crime Reduction Officers and Trained Fire Safety Advisers and wear uniforms similar to those worn by Police Officers, for reassurance, and always carry formal identification. Two vans provide mobile workshops, each with a dedicated Bobby Operator and are operated by the Trust across Swindon and Wiltshire.

FREE HOME SECURITY SERVICE

for older, vulnerable and disadvantaged people living in Wiltshire and Swindon If you are 60+ or vulnerable due to a disability and would like the